The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-27
ARCHES REFORMATION.
4 Hateful Experience Down in tho
Peggy Pit.

fGSgy I'll
Archie Cray's reformation began
that June day in England. We were
both GOLFERS, and had been working
together in the Philadelphia colliery,
near Durham, for year and six
months. 1t was slaves work and poor
pay, besides.
Archie was but one-and-twenty, yet
he was called 1.-The worst man in the
Mines" an that was sayin' deal,
for there was many black heart down
in the Peggy pit. Three hundred an
fifty of us in all, hard at work that
never-to-bc-forgatten day.
Don't 90 down this mornin'r'
pleaded Archie's sister Dora. whom he
met just out of Durham. Il can't get
rid of the awful thought that some
things going TO happen. she said,
low and tremblin'.
IAN sposin' it does?" returned
Archie Cray, with Il coarse laugh.
You're far too squeamish for min
-er's sister. Go back to town. We can
take care of ourselves, an need no in
reference.
With that, he stalked on towards the
mines. But | stopp'd with bit of a
comfortin' word: I'VE are in Gods
hands, Miss Dora, and if any thing
should happen try to remember that
He doeth all things WE'LL and in case
of an accident l promise to look out
for Archie. He isn't bad lad at
heart. It's the bad company that's
transformed an deformed him. You
must pray for us both" An with a
fearful Il will'' from Dora, we parted.
At noon, that day, something did
happen. A fire broke out in the col
liery, caused by an explosion of fire
damp in the Peggy" An one wild
cry of horror assembled TO the pits
mouth from hundreds of blackened
lips.
Archie was close beside me, but l
could not see his face for the smoke.
Jack" he groaned. ''Dora's warning
was prophecy. Wen die in the pit
like sheep"
Life remains to Us yet" said l, IAN
there's CLEAN of hope in that"
But. indeed, it was only CLEAN.
Some OF our number had been killed
instantly. We stumbled over their
bodies as we CROPPED about in the dark
ness an confusion. Many were down
on their knees prayin' for the first
time in their sinful lives.
1t was an awful moment! Far up
overhead we could hear the faint
sounds of the outside connection.
Then came echoes of weepin' and
wailin', an we knew that distracted
friends and relatives had already
reached the colliery. l wondered if
sweet Dora Cray was among them, her
blue eyes dim an tear-flled.
An Archie was wondcrin' too. "If
Dora's up there, the suspense may kill
herr he cried hoarsely. shes as
delicate as a flower. an, she loves me-
worthless rs / am, Jack Norton" he
added in changed tone. IF God
spares my ill-spent life this day,
promise you, an Him, it shall be Il
different one in the future"
Its so,emen covenant, lad. an
mind you keep it!' said l, with Il hearty
hand pressure.
An just then dull heavy sounds
came down the shaft. tellin' that the
''reliefS" We're at work, an preparin'
for descent
But this was followed by IN awful
rush of water from the Sutton seam.
We fled to the farthest corner, but like
an unrelenting foe, it slowly but sure
ly approached us.
Death by drowning now seemed our
threatened doom. But the work of
rescue had already begun. The men
with large families dependent Upon
them, went up first. 1t was Archie's
suggestion. an honored the lad for it.
The small boys were sent up next.
an all that time the water was stead
lily rising. When it reached our knees,
4 full hundred had been rescued. We
could hear the loud shouts of rejoicin'
that greeted them, as the last batch
were taken from the shaft. But it was
only an echo, in which we had no
share. An over two hundred of us
vet remained. The water covered the
dead. Who they were, we could not
tell.
The next called for by the "reliefs,"
were the old men. Some had already
lost foothold, and We're strugglin' in
the inky lake below an about us.
Archie Cray's strong arms saved more
than one life in that awful hour All
who could, worked with desperate will.
Fear had palsied some, an made cow
ards of those we had thought the
bravest-
An the water rose higher and higher.
Its small chance for you an me,
Jack" WHISPERED Archie. I'VE are
young an strong an will be left to the
last as is right an just. If 1 shouldn't
get out alive. you'll see that my body's
found for Dora to weep over and
bury?''
But ! Just answered the lad: "We'n